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Budget Breakdown

Thursday, April 14, 2011

I'm not going to lie. I'm having a really hard time being on a budget.

See, previously I was the one who knew the state of our monetary affairs. This meant that I was the one to blame for any use of our credit card and line of credit [over draft protection], but it also meant that more often than not I got to say "Yes."

Yes - to the Target shirt, just too cute on clearance for Isaac.Yes - to the American Eagle 20% off sale with free shipping for a shirt for myself or Tony.Yes - to trying the new recipe with expensive ingredients that looks amazing.Yes - to allowing myself one lunch out per week, like my $3.50 spicy California roll.

And well, really, those are my two main indulgences: food and clothing.

We're just a few weeks into this, so we're just trying to get the basics down. To be honest, it feels like going through withdrawls. Going absolutely cold turkey. We don't have a clothing allowance budgeted quite yet, or entertainment, or eating out or separate mad money.

Within the first week, Tony and I called each other to the table for emergency budget talks. Tony of course chimed in, "Dave says that this is totally normal. That we'll often have emergency money meetings and that the first 90 days are the hardest." Dang straight they are.

Instead of feeling like my charge card is vile, I now think the same of my check card. On Monday I thought I'd left a lunch at work, so I only brought my snacks. I'm sure you can imagine how distraught I was to find that my lunch had been left to thaw, all weekend long, and was no longer an option. I couldn't buy lunch though, so I tried to make do on an oatmeal packet. That's a sad sight for you now isn't it? My stepdad questioned what my cravings were with this pregnancy, I told him I didn't have any. I can't, we don't have money budgeted for my cravings.

I know, that I know, that I know, that it's worth it, but I honestly think that Dave Ramsey needs to address budgeting when pregnant in depth.

There's only so much I can convey to Tony, before he start thinking I'm slightly crazy.

8 comments:

Oh honey - you I love myself a good budget but budgeting while pregnant is TOUGH. Even Dave says that if you're pregnant you can stop the debt snowball and build the Emergency fund -- b/c babies definitely bring on "murphy." But how to cut back on expenses while pregant, he doesn't even address it. Dang you Dave for being a man! :)Hang in there -- sounds like you guys are already doing all the right things.

It will get easier :) It is hard at first, but like you said it's worth it in the end. Eventually you will be able to add in clothing and entertainment. The only clothing or dining out we do is through gift cards at Christmas/birthdays. ::sigh::

I would imagine that pregnancy adds a whole new level of "tough" to the TMMO plan. And you're right, the first 90 days ARE the hardest, and I can't tell you how many emergency budget meetings we had to call because we just weren't getting it right. After those first 3 months, though, we were pros & it gets to the point where you don't even feel like you're on a budget anymore, because it's just how you live life.

I spent my entire last pregnancy not being able to buy much of anything.

In fact, I never got to buy any new maternity clothes. I used what I had leftover from my first pregnancy and then a very nice friend who was done having children gave me all of her maternity clothes.

I couldn't really buy anything and it killed me. Well, it didn't kill me obviously =) The challenges of being a one income family while pregnant SUCKED. But, I can tell you for certain, that it has made us stronger.

Money struggles are so HARD on a marriage. We have been through so much but the financial struggles took the biggest toll.

It is WORTH IT, Leah. I promise!

What does Dave say? "live like no one else so you can live like no one else?" Yeah, I remember.

Funny you post this. I too use to do the budget and well, it was hard not to blame myself for everything financially that has happened to us. I have realized that a marriage is still TWO. My husband CHOSE not to get heavily involved and I CHOSE not to involve him or admit I needed help. It still sucks to be responsible though, doesnt it? I sure as heck love to shop!

Oh and I forgot to mention. I know this is sort of....lame but for clothing we count on birthdays and holidays. Also, Chris is giving me a budget for clothes and I take a lot of that money to the Salvation army. You would be surprised how cheap stuff is there. WAY cheaper than the Thrift Store.

Clothes and food get me every single time too, especially those kids clearance items at Target! We just started our cash only budget, but I prefer to call it our cash only diet because it's keeping my pregnant cravings in check too!